retrofitting for Rohloff speedhub

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Gerard McMahon

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Oct 9, 2023, 12:04:21 PM10/9/23
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Friends, I'm wondering if anyone has tried retrofitting their Rivendell to use a Rohloff hub with a carbon belt drive instead of a chain. Am at the exploration stage.  TIA for any thoughts about this, especially if you've actually tried it out!  Jerry McMahon

Victor Hanson

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Oct 9, 2023, 12:13:19 PM10/9/23
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As far as retrofitting a frame, the stays that Riv uses are plenty beefy to accept the Paragon seatstay splitter.   This is not cheap as you would also need new drop outs, you might be better off with a Thron.  

vtw

On Mon, Oct 9, 2023 at 9:04 AM Gerard McMahon <gmcma...@gmail.com> wrote:
Friends, I'm wondering if anyone has tried retrofitting their Rivendell to use a Rohloff hub with a carbon belt drive instead of a chain. Am at the exploration stage.  TIA for any thoughts about this, especially if you've actually tried it out!  Jerry McMahon

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VIctor R. Hanson
Gen Mgr
Schmier Industrial Properties

Josh C

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Oct 9, 2023, 6:53:34 PM10/9/23
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I recall reading this article about it. https://www.cyclemonkey.com/blog/classic-commuter-rohloff-rivendell

I’ve been curious myself. I commute on a rohloff surly ogre and love it for a Midwest-winter-proof commuter, but have often considered commuting on a Clem or the like as I prefer the ride feel of my rivs. I was thinking of starting a thread dedicated to daily or semi-regular Rivendell commuters to see what folks are doing out there. 

WETH

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Oct 9, 2023, 7:29:14 PM10/9/23
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I commute year round, including the winter (Mid-Atlantic winters are not like the Midwest, but we do get freezing rain and occasional snow.).  I went the custom route but asked my frame builder to make the bike ride similarly to my Riv Hunqapillar which is one of the later versions and has longer stays.  I went with a Pinion gearbox, carbon belt drive, and hydraulic disc brakes.  I used Bantam https://www.bantambicycles.com/
Bob was great to deal with and added many nice touches to the build.  The only maintenance I have done in a bit over two years and 8,000 miles is to replace the rear tire and change the oil in the gearbox (2x-once per year).  

Erl Houston
Kensington, MD


Bantam.jpg

WilletM

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Oct 10, 2023, 10:31:23 PM10/10/23
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I have two Rohloff-equipped bikes (a chain-drive titanium Salsa Fargo and a belt-drive Surly Krampus) and two Riv's (a Bombadil and a Protovelo/Bombadil).  If I had it all to do over again, I would probably still go with Rohloff's on the non-Riv bikes and then Phil hubs or something similar on the Riv's.  I ride the Krampus all winter on heavily sanded and mag chloride-slathered roads high up in Colorado, and the belt and the hub (and the rest of the bike, really) are pretty well trashed by springtime and in need of serious scrubbing and scheduled maintenance.  That said, I've had no un-scheduled maintenance or repairs needed in the 6-8 years that I've had the two Rohloff's, with the exception of replacing the seals on the Fargo when the hub oil started to seep out a little too much and make the disc rotor and other things back there lightly coated with oil.

The main reasons why I would never consider retrofitting either of the Riv's is WEIGHT (they are friggin' boat anchor-ly), aesthetics (they kind of look like hub-motored e-bikes), and the exceptional high cost of obtaining the parts and doing the frame mods.  

Best of luck to you in whichever direction you decide to go.

Willet M.
Carbondale, CO

Gerard McMahon

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Oct 11, 2023, 1:53:18 AM10/11/23
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Thanks Victor, this is helpful. Not sure what you were referring to with Thron? Again, thanks

Gerard McMahon


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On Oct 9, 2023, at 12:13, Victor Hanson <vhans...@gmail.com> wrote:


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Gerard McMahon

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Oct 11, 2023, 1:54:02 AM10/11/23
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Thanks, Josh…super helpful. It’s nice to visualize what this would look like . I have a 60 Cheviot, so big frame. Not sure if belt drive would work.

Jerry


Gerard McMahon


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On Oct 9, 2023, at 18:53, Josh C <getjosh...@gmail.com> wrote:


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Gerard McMahon

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Oct 11, 2023, 1:54:18 AM10/11/23
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Cool, thanks very helpful. Love the combination of robust and low maintenance!


Gerard McMahon


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On Oct 9, 2023, at 19:29, WETH <erlho...@gmail.com> wrote:

I commute year round, including the winter (Mid-Atlantic winters are not like the Midwest, but we do get freezing rain and occasional snow.).  I went the custom route but asked my frame builder to make the bike ride similarly to my Riv Hunqapillar which is one of the later versions and has longer stays.  I went with a Pinion gearbox, carbon belt drive, and hydraulic disc brakes.  I used Bantam https://www.bantambicycles.com/
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Gerard McMahon

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Oct 11, 2023, 7:30:10 AM10/11/23
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Thanks, Willet, very helpful. Expense is an issue for sure. And weight!

Jerry


Gerard McMahon


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On Oct 10, 2023, at 22:31, WilletM <wille...@gmail.com> wrote:


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